Little noise and great efficacy

I always tell you that there are people who do the work of three and make the noise of three thousand. We want to work like three thousand while making only the noise of three. I am not saying anything negative about anyone. I respect opinions that do not agree with the simplicity that characterizes our way of doing apostolate. But I am convinced that the spiritual unity of Christians does not always require external mass demonstrations and loud collective actions. Unity is achieved not by congresses and clamour, but by charity and truth.

Defence of humility

You will understand, then, that the discreet reserve (never a secret) I have instilled in you is simply a remedy against bragging. It defends the humility that God wants for the Work’s individual members and also, collectively, for the Work as a whole. At the same time, it contributes to the effectiveness of the apostolate of good example, which each of us carries out in our own family, work and social circumstances.

Humility leads to being understanding

We cannot forget, my dearly beloved daughters and sons, that by divine calling our whole lives are apostolate. As you have experienced, and as all your future brothers and sisters will also experience, from this calling to the apostolate is born a constant desire to deal with all men and women and to overcome any barrier with Christ’s charity.

From this desire flows the Christian concern to try to eliminate every form of intolerance, coercion and violence in people’s dealings with one another. Also in the apostolate – or rather, above all in the apostolate – we do not want there to be even the most minimal coercion. God wants to be served in freedom; any apostolate that did not respect the freedom of consciences would be a false apostolate.